8. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
Hendr
M y arm had been crushed to a pulp, I was nauseous, and my mind was woozy from lack of blood.
And I’d never been so thrilled in my life.
“Are you sure you’re well enough to walk?” Her gorgeous eyes were alight with worry for me. Me! “You’re so pale. I could go on my own if you tell me the way.”
“No. I’m not leaving your side for a moment,” I vowed, wishing I could make this vow last an eternity. I never wanted her to stray from my sight again.
“Wonderful,” she said dryly.
Her sarcastic nature was endlessly amusing. “You’ll have to get used to me eventually. I intend to commission shirts from you at every trade all winter.”
“That’s just six, very brief, interactions that I’ll be glad to have come to an end.”
I tried to hide how much that hurt. “You really hate me that much?”
“Did you forget you kidnapped me just now?”
“No, but you’re still worried about me, aren’t you?” I clung to that truth like a drowning male clinging to a slippery root. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t come with me today.”
“If I am, it’s only out of guilt.” Her eyes lingered on my injured arm again and I swear her gaze was enough to dim the pain. “As soon as you’re healed, I’m going right back to Oakwall.”
“Of course, beauty,” I said with a deep sigh. Her stubborn nature was as attractive as it was frustrating, but I refused to let it kill my hope. I’d gathered so many boons for her. I was certain at least one would turn her head while we were fetching the tincture. “I’ll give you anything you want.”
She shot me an incredulous look.
“You don’t believe me? I perched up on the blasted branch for half the morning, waiting for you. My ass still feels numb. You think I did that for fun?”
“Maybe.” Her cheeks went a delightful shade of pink. “I don’t know what your interests are.”
“My only interest right now is you.”
That statement made her blink with shock, but I swear there was pleasure hidden under it. “Is that why you’ve been watching me for the last three trades? Because I interest you?”
Her irritation was obvious, and confusion lit within me. “You didn’t like it?”
“Why would anyone like feeling like a mouse cornered by a cat?”
“I wasn’t trying to hunt you. I was guarding you. Protecting you from predators that could be lurking near.”
“You’re ridiculous. There are no predators at the trade except for you .”
“I think that old woman was,” I grumbled. “Or at least she was a threat. And I protected you from her.”
“ Headman Gerald protected me from her.”
“He wouldn’t have been involved had I not intervened.”
She threw up her hands in frustration. “Fine. You helped get her away from my table, but then you insulted me and my family legacy right after and chased away everyone who was considering doing business with me. You are the reason I had no dinner last night, Hendr.”
My throat constricted with guilt; it felt like I’d swallowed a pine cone. “I am sorry, Nalina. Truly. That was never my intent. From this moment forward, as an apology, I vow never to let you go hungry again.”
Her eyes widened with shock and the golden brown color was so beautiful it made my breath catch. “That’s . . . that’s not a normal thing for an orc to promise a human. Unless she’s his conquest, and you know I’m not willing to play that role for you.”
“I don’t want you as my conquest, Nalina. I don’t want anything that you are not willing to give in earnest.” Fades, I never thought I would utter such words and mean them.
When my fellow warriors and I had come to these woods and learned of the humans who were willing, even eager , to play conquest, I was single-minded in my determination to get one as quickly as possible. I was eager to have the son I’d envisioned nearly all of my life.
And then I’d seen her standing there at the trade behind her table and everything had changed.
I remembered the smell of her on the breeze, fresh and crisp like a clean rain. Her voice carried across the trade pavilion and lit my mind with longing. She’d looked my way, made eye contact, and I felt a jolt throughout my body.
My purpose had realigned just like that.
“Is that the cave?”
Pulled from my thoughts, I looked down at my feisty, perfect woman and realized we’d already made it to the cave I’d prepared. The small opening was cut into a cliff face and was partially hidden by vines. “Yes, that’s it.”
She fidgeted, looking from me to the entrance of the cave. “You stay right there while I go in and get the tincture.”
“What?”
“I’m serious, Hendr. You stay out here. I don’t want to be in an enclosed space with you.”
“Why?” I’d give my left leg and half my ass to read her mind right now. Her cheeks had gone pink and her eyes had dilated slightly.
“It’s just not a good idea,” she said, not quite looking at me.
My mind flicked through all the reasons why being with her in a private space like that would make her hesitant. Only delicious ideas made their way to the front of my mind.
“Don’t look at me like that, Hendr.”
I blinked. “Like what?”
“Like you’re going to eat me ,” she said, though her voice lacked the harsh quality it had before.
“I do want to eat you, beauty,” I teased, just to see what her reaction might be.
But perhaps I shouldn’t have because she gaped at me. “ E-excuse me ?”
She stepped back, poised to bolt, and my chest tightened as my instincts roared to life.
“Don’t run,” I warned.
Thankfully, she had the sense to obey. Her eyes narrowed further. “What would happen if I did?”
“I would chase you.” My voice came from the pit of my stomach and rumbled up my throat. “I’m a predator, Nalina. It’s instinct.”
She swallowed and her eyes blinked wide. “Are you saying you would hunt me down like I’m prey, Hendr? Fades, you really are a beast.”
“Yes. I am.”
Fuck , me and my mouth! “I vow I would not harm you. I will never harm you, Nalina.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You make vows too easily and I can’t trust that you would keep them.”
“I will.”
“Then prove it. Vow to stay out here while I go get the tincture.”
I growled low under my breath, but I knew this was the easiest way to prove myself. “Fine. I vow not to move from this spot.”
She took a deep breath, nodded, and went to the entrance of the cave. I planted my feet and cradled my injured arm as she climbed through.
Fades, she was out of shape. The entrance was at a diagonal, but I’d never had an issue with it. She, however, had slipped twice before she got half her body inside.
“How deep is this thing?” She readjusted her legs again. “I can’t even see the end!”
“The tunnel leading to the larger part of the cave is only two of my body lengths,” I said as she turned around onto her stomach with her feet in the cave and her head looking toward me. What was she doing ? “Would have been much easier if you’d just let me help you.”
“I’m sure you would be so much help with pulp for an arm.”
“Even with only one good arm, I’d still be able to climb through without half the difficulty you’re having.”
“Fuck off!” With that, she tried to squiggle herself backward.
I snorted with amusement despite myself. “Why aren’t you this feisty with the humans who take advantage of you?”
“I told you that’s tradition !” she barked, only to realize what she’d said and scowled at me.
“I find it amusing that you admit your family tradition puts you at a disadvantage, and yet, you do nothing to change it.”
She stopped trying to squirm her way into the cave. “Hendr, did it ever occur to you that maybe the people in my village might need some extra help now and then? I can’t just give up the repairs when so many rely on them. I have mothers that would not have winter coats for their children without it, elderly folk who can no longer perform their craft and simply don’t have the trade to spare. There are so many in need at Oakwall, and it’s my family legacy to do our part to help our community.”
My brows furrowed so tightly in confusion I could feel a headache brewing behind my eyes. “You don’t have to give up all . Just be picky about who you give free labor to.”
“I can’t do that.” Her exasperation was clear. “That wouldn’t be fair.”
“Who the fuck cares about fair?” I shook my head. “Not everything in life is fair. Not everyone is going to be made equal, and they shouldn’t be treated as such. Do you make sleeves for males without arms? No! You think freezing children are worth the same as that bitter woman who made demands of you at the trade?”
Her eyes widened, blinking as if something had finally clicked in her mind, and I hoped it had.
Instead of responding, she started working on squirming into the crack in the rocks again, only to pitch backward and yelp. “Ouch! Ow, ow!”
Fuck! “Release me from my vow, Nalina.”
She shot me a hard glare. “No.”
“Stubborn woman.” My worry for her was like a rat burrowing in my stomach and gnawing at my heart.
“I can get free on my own.” She tugged her leg and hissed.
“Nalina. Please .” Fades, hearing her in pain was agony.
Her eyes shot to mine.
“Please, Nalina. I swear not to harm you or do anything to you that you would not enjoy. I only wish to help you. I beg you to let me, beauty.”
Her eyes widened and her breath came in quick pants and, Fades have mercy, the scent of her grew intoxicating. Warm and rich and as decadent as sugar-coated berries. I’d gotten a slight whiff of this under the tree, but now it was like a torrent. I wanted to gobble her up.
“Fine.” The single word was blissful. “I release you from your vow, Hendr. You can help me.”
I broke free of my position and rushed over to her. She wasn’t that deep, but it was difficult to reach her properly with my arm bandaged.
I finally got the right position and grabbed her around the waist so I could hoist her up.
“Wait! Wait, my foot is wedged between two rocks.”
I moved down her body and found the blasted stuck appendage and slammed my fist into the rock caging it. She yelped as it exploded, crumbling into dust.
Her foot was free, and she was uninjured. Thank Fades. “Come to me.” I pulled her frame into mine. She swung up against my body easily, despite the cramped space.
“Keep your head here.” I tucked her face into my neck, and she didn’t fight me. “Hold around my body with your arms and legs.”
Her body curled around me, warm, soft, and inviting. My rational mind threatened to blank as she cuddled up to my chest. It felt so blasted good.
“Hendr?” Her worried tone cut through the haze.
I sucked in a sharp breath and clambered through. The space was tight, and her body curled around mine, tucked so close I could hardly catch my breath. Her warmth was so delicious it made me ache with longing.
I wished this passage would never end.
But it did. I came out the opposite side and walked into the open area of the cave. I’d set up five torches around the perimeter so the space was brightly lit and warm. The floor was rough gray rock, which I’d swept free of dust and grime as best I could. The walls were piled with boulders and stones that hadn’t moved in eons. The roof was high above our heads, close to five of my length, and although daylight could not be seen, I could feel cool air coming from there, so I knew there must be an opening.
I set my woman down on her feet carefully and her hands rested on my chest. Fades, they felt good. Soft and warm.
“Let me go,” she said shakily, not meeting my gaze. Her lips were right there, and it reminded me of what other, luckier males had described. Of how good it felt to taste a woman’s mouth.
I wanted her so badly it was like fire in my veins.
But I did let her go. I knew that if I pushed too hard, I would ruin this.
“W-where are the tinctures?” She scrambled from me and looked around, eyes going wide as she caught sight of the piles of boons I’d prepared. Fruits and vegetables and dried beans for stew.
“Is this it?” She snatched up one of the small brown vials at the top of the stack. “This is it, right? The healing tincture?”
She brought it to me before confirming and uncorked the top. “Here. Drink up.”
I was no stranger to drinking the healing tinctures made by the magic-wielding orcs of Rove Wood Clan. They’d saved my life more than once during the war.
But I’d never drank a fresh one and had not expected the taste to be so much spicier, nor the healing to be done so much faster .
There was snapping and stretching as my bones mended and my skin knitted. The familiar pain was like the return of an old, annoying friend.
Nalina’s hands went to the bandage, and I held my breath as her feather-light touch undressed my previously injured arm. By the time she’d untied the binding, only a few smears of blood remained as proof that I’d been injured at all.
Her exhale of relief felt better than being healed. “Thank Fades. Can you bend it?”
I dutifully moved all my fingers and flexed my bicep as she watched. The warmth of her care was a delight I’d never known.
“Perfect.” She stroked my arm gently and my muscles went lax. “No more pain?”
“No.” I breathed. “No more pain.” Being injured was nothing new, but the pleasure of being doted on by her was wonderful. I almost wished I hadn’t healed so quickly.
“Thank you, beauty. Go and get your reward.” I nodded to the piles of boons behind her, and she turned toward it. For a moment, she was completely still and then she exhaled.
“This . . . is amazing.” She walked over to take a closer look.
My chest swelled with pride until I saw she was not looking at the food but at the cloth.
I scowled as she approached the fine, shiny linens. I knew she would like them, but I had hoped the food would be her priority. Instead, it was like the food wasn’t there at all.
She kneeled to get a better look and stroked them softly with gentle fingers. “What is this?”
And on cue, her stomach rumbled.
“Woman, what is wrong with you?”
She went back to her feet, glowering at me, and I couldn’t help but feel glad that at least she wasn’t fearful of my abrupt words. “What do you mean?”
“You choose your work over food at every turn. You should be eating right now, not examining shiny linens.”
She scowled. “Hendr, do you like picking fights with me?”
“I am not picking fights. I’m trying to keep you alive , woman. Now come here before you wither away right in front of my eyes.”
“I’m not going to wither away. Stop exaggerating.”
I plucked up the sweetest-smelling apple and held it to her. “I have this for you.”
Her throat worked in a swallow and her perfect pink tongue barely eased from her mouth to lick her lips.
Something snapped in me at the sight. Something raw and rich with longing. Something that gave me both control and raged in my veins like an inferno.
“Come here, beauty.” My voice was a low rumble. “And let me feed you.”